Page 100 - 2020 Travel Guide to California

GILROY
Garden glory and foodie destination
»EAT, PLAY,
WINE-TASTE,
HIKE
Gilroy Visitor
Information
visitgilroy.com
THIS CITY IN CALIFORNIA’S Santa
Clara County is well known for its favorite,
year-round pungent plant: garlic. But just
like a garlic bulb with many cloves, Gilroy
has plenty of attractions—including a
wealth of wineries and an amusement park
full of gardens and agricultural mastery—
enough to appeal to a variety of tastes.
THERE’S NO BETTER PLACE than the
vineyard for tasting wine with friends,
above; everybody loves a parade, below.
Gilroy Gardens
Time has flown for the Gilroy Gardens
Family Theme Park, which will celebrate its
20th season in 2020. California’s only horti-
cultural theme park, inspired by the vision of
founder Michael Bonfante, features majestic
gardens and waterfalls, as well as more than
40 rides and attractions. Also scattered
throughout the park are the world-famous
Circus Trees, living sculptures originally
grafted and shaped by Axel Erlandson in the
1920s, including the iconic Basket Tree as
well as others like the Arch Tree and the Four-
Legged Giant. The big birthday celebration
will last all year, with special party zones and
activities throughout the park.
Wine Trail Pass
Gilroy is part of one of California’s oldest
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B Y J I L L K. R O B I N S O N
wine-growing regions and is home to more
than 35 family-owned wineries and tasting
rooms. The wayfinding signs along the Santa
Clara Valley Wine Trail help oenophiles and
first-time tasters discover award-winning
wines, beautiful vineyard views and a casual
atmosphere that makes wine tasting fun. A
new, annual Santa Clara Valley Wine Trail
Pass has been introduced (for $75). You can
download the Wine Trail Map for your adven-
ture (visitgilroy.com/wineries) and find the best
options for your personal tasting tour.
Road to Garlic
Dedicated garlic heads come to Gilroy to
get a taste of the best from the Garlic Cap-
ital of the World. Grab the Road to Garlic
map for a tasty treasure hunt to find all
the best garlic shops, restaurants and
experiences (including garlic ice cream)
to enjoy the town’s signature spice. If
you’re in for a serious immersion, come
for the Gilroy Garlic Festival, July 24-26.
The three-day celebration is where fes-
tival-goers consume up to two tons of
garlic each year—in the form of sizzling
calamari and scampi, pepper steak sand-
wiches and garlic fries.
VISIT GILROY